BELMONT — Eighteen students from Belmont Middle School were inducted into membership of the National Junior Honor Society in a ceremony held at the middle school on March 25.
Members were selected by a Faculty Council for meeting high standards of scholarship, service, leadership, citizenship, and character. Students inducted were: Abigail Camire, Benjamin Charleston, Kaitlynn Delisle, Emily Drouin, Caleb Duggan, Griffin Embree, Zachary Ennis, Julianna Estremera, Nolan Gagnon, Connor Jackson, Jacob Mozier, Skylar Ruelke, Jordan Sargent, Sydney Shepherd, Megan Sinclair, Mikhayla Singer, Nicholas Randos, and Ryann Wells.
"National Junior Honor Society members are chosen for and then expected to continue their exemplary contributions to the school and community," said Blake, chapter advisor. The National Junior Honor Society ranks as one of the oldest and most prestigious national organizations for middle level students. Chapters exist in more than 60 percent of the nation's middle level schools and, since 1929, millions of students have been selected for membership. NJHS is sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, which also sponsors the National Honor Society.

WOLFEBORO — Robert Varney, long-time Wolfeboro resident, whose "day job" is as a Third Circuit Court judge, was the featured speaker at the Wolfeboro Public Library on Thursday, April 18, where he  showcased his recently published first novel, "Do Unto Others."
Varney, 67, was until recently a practicing lawyer with the Walker & Varney law firm and says that his four decades of experience as a lawyer and judge have left him with "enough stories for a dozen books."
While "Do Unto Others" is a mystery with many of the features of a police procedural story, the book also explores questions of class and privilege, looking at the way the intersection of different societal classes plays a large part in the life of resort communities here in the Lakes Region. Kirkus Reviews recently praised the book's "richness of character and dialogue," while noting "The most striking success is thecreation of (main character) Harry Warren, a flawed man who is neither as flawed nor as stealthy as he thinks."
Writing daily on a 1936 model Underwood typewriter, Varney is currently at work on his second novel, which he says is proceeding more quickly than the first. He describes fiction writing as "exhilarating and frightening at the same time."
Varney says that one of his most satisfying moments as an author came recently when he was at Wolfeboro Library. Picking up one of the library's copies of his book, he noticed how many times it had been checked out and that it was beginning to look "used." He thought of the number of different people "who had held this book, my book, and read it. It doesn't get any better than that."

ALTON — John Shaffer, director of Food Services at Alton Central School, has received the "Outstanding Director of the Year" for the state of New Hampshire.
The award is sponsored by the School Nutrition Association (SNA-NH) and recognizes a director for managing effective programs providing healthful, appetizing and nutritious meals to New Hampshire students. The judging criteria for this award include program enhancements, staff development, school involvement, Association involvement, and nutrition related community activity.
 Shaffer has been the Food Services Director at Alton Central School since 2005. During this time he has instituted a number of innovative ways to provide healthy, nutritious lunches and breakfasts to the students there. These include cooking all meals from scratch, "Bringing Loved ones to Lunch" theme meals, and includes student participation in creating menus that they serve to their fellow students.
 Shaffer is extremely pleased with this recognition of his efforts. He credits his Food Services team, the school administration and ACS students for contributing to the success.

CAPTION:
Jeanne Pierce, president of SNA-NH, presenting award to John Shaffer. (Courtesy photo)